alpha-carotene and Vitamin-A-Deficiency

Red palm oil (RPO) has been investigated for preventing or alleviating vitamin A deficiency (VAD). Previous data has offered inconclusive and inconsistent results about the effects of RPO in patients with VAD. Our objective was to undertake a meta-analysis to assess the effects of RPO in preventing VAD in the population. After conducting a comprehensive literature search, nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Overall, when trial results were pooled, the results indicated that RPO reduced the risk of VAD (relative risk (RR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) = 0.55 (0.37, 0.82),

Topics: beta Carotene; Carotenoids; Humans; Palm Oil; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sensitivity and Specificity; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

Topics: Adolescent; beta Carotene; Beta-Cryptoxanthin; Burkina Faso; Carotenoids; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cryptoxanthins; Diet; Energy Intake; Feeding Behavior; Female; Fruit; Humans; Lutein; Male; Nutritional Status; Vegetables; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Xanthophylls

Minimal human data exist on liver vitamin A (VA) compared with serum biomarkers. Cutoffs of 5% and 10% total serum VA as retinyl esters (REs) suggest a VA intoxication diagnosis.. We compared total liver VA reserves (TLRs) with the percentage of total serum VA as REs to evaluate hypervitaminosis with the use of US adult autopsy samples. Secondary objectives evaluated serum retinol sensitivity, TLRs among lobes, and hepatic α-retinol concentrations, an α-carotene cleavage product.. Matched serum and liver samples were procured from cadavers (n = 27; mean ± SD age: 70.7 ± 14.9 y; range: 49-101 y). TLRs and α-REs were quantified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography. Pearson correlations showed liver and serum associations. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for >5%, 7.5%, and 10% total serum VA as REs to predict TLRs and for serum retinol <0.7 and 1 μmol/L to predict deficiency.. Serum RE concentrations were correlated with TLRs (r = 0.497, P < 0.001). Nine subjects (33%) had hypervitaminosis A (≥1.0 μmol VA/g liver), 2 of whom had >7.5% total serum VA as REs; histologic indicators corroborated toxicity at 3 μmol/g liver. No subject had >10% total serum VA as REs. Serum retinol sensitivity to determine deficiency (TLRs <0.1 μmol VA/g) was 83% at 0.7 and 1 μmol/L. Hepatic α-retinol was positively correlated with age (P = 0.047), but removing an outlier nullified significance.. This study evaluated serum REs as a biomarker of VA status against TLRs (gold standard), and abnormal histology suggested that 7.5% total serum VA as REs is diagnostic for toxicity at the individual level in adults. The long-term impact of VA supplements and fortificants on VA status is currently unknown. Considering the high prevalence of hypervitaminotic TLRs in this cohort, and given that many countries are adding preformed VA to processed products, population biomarkers diagnosing hypervitaminosis before toxicity are urgently needed. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.govas NCT03305042.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers; Carotenoids; Cohort Studies; Dietary Supplements; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Esters; Female; Food, Fortified; Humans; Hypervitaminosis A; Liver; Male; Middle Aged; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

Iron deficiency anemia, zinc and vitamin A deficiencies are serious public health problems in Cameroon, as in many developing countries. Local vegetables which are sources of provitamin A carotenoids (PACs) can be used to improve vitamin A intakes. However, traditional meals are often unable to cover zinc and iron needs. The aim of this study was to determine the bioavailability of 3 PACs (α-carotene, β-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthin) in young men, who were fed with a vitamin A-free diet and received iron and zinc supplementation. Twelve healthy participants were divided into three groups and were supplemented with elemental iron (20 mg of iron fumarate), 20 mg of zinc sulfate or iron+zinc (20 mg of iron in the morning and 20 mg of zinc in the evening) for 11 d. They were given a vitamin A- and PAC-free diet from the 6th to the 11th day, followed by a test meal containing 0.55 kg of freshly peeled papaya as a source of PACs. Blood samples were collected four times successively on the 11th day (the test meal day), at T0 (just after the test meal), after 2 h (T2), after 4 h (T4) and after 7 h (T7). Ultracentrifugation was used to isolate serum chylomicrons. Retinol appearance and PAC postprandial concentrations were determined. The supplementation with zinc, iron and iron+zinc influenced the chylomicron appearance of retinol and PACs differently as reflected by retention times and maximum absorption peaks. Iron led to highest retinol levels in the chylomicron. Zinc and iron+zinc supplements were best for optimal intact appearance of α-carotene, β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin respectively. Supplementation with iron led to the greatest bioavailability of PACs from papaya and its conversion to retinol.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; beta Carotene; Biological Availability; Cameroon; Carica; Carotenoids; Cryptoxanthins; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Iron; Male; Postprandial Period; Trace Elements; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Vitamins; Young Adult; Zinc; Zinc Sulfate

The study was carried out to determine serum retinol and carotenoid of infants and young children in rural areas, and to explore their related dietary factors.. A total of 254 rural healthy infants and young children aged 6-24 month-old were recruited from a program for health examination and feeding survey conducted in villages in Meibu of Linyi of Shandong Province by cluster sampling method. Serum retinol, beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin and lutein + zeaxanthin were detected with HPLC. The frequency of food intake of babies during the past month was inquired from their mothers or baby-sitters. The relationship between serum retinol and carotenoid level with some factors related to feeding pattern was analyzed.. The average serum retinol was (0.96 +/- 0.55) micromol/L with little variation by age (P > 0.05). The prevalence of serum vitamin A deficiency and marginal deficiency were 40.6% and 32.6%. The average serum beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin and lutein + zeaxanthin were (0.056 +/- 0.088) micromol/L, (3.3 +/- 12.1) nmol/L, (27.0 +/- 45.2) nmol/L and (0.22 +/- 0.22) micromol/L, respectively, and no significant difference between age groups on serum beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin (all were P > 0.05) except lutein + zeaxanthin (P < 0.05). Breast feeding and formula feeding were significant dietary factors influencing serum retinol and carotenoids levels. The frequency of breast-feeding was correlated significantly with serum beta-carotene (P < 0.05). Serum retinol was correlated positively with carotenoids and among carotenoids with each other (all were P < 0.001).. Vitamin A deficiency and marginal deficiency were prevalent in the investigated infants and young children. Serum carotenoid was little variation with age, but was different significantly with dietary patterns fed by breast milk, formula, or fruits and vegetables.

Topics: beta Carotene; Breast Feeding; Carotenoids; Child; China; Cryptoxanthins; Diet; Female; Fruit; Humans; Infant; Infant Welfare; Milk, Human; Rural Population; Vegetables; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of provitamin A carotenoids. We evaluated the vitamin A (VA) bioefficacy of a whole foods supplement (WFS) and its constituent green vegetables (Study 1) and a variety of fruits with varying ratios of provitamin A carotenoids (Study 2) in VA-depleted Mongolian gerbils (n = 77/study). After feeding a VA-deficient diet for 4 and 6 weeks in Studies 1 and 2, respectively, customized diets, equalized for VA, were fed for 4 and 3 weeks, respectively. Both studies utilized negative and VA-positive control groups. In Study 1, liver VA was highest in the VA group (0.82 +/- 0.16 micromol/liver, P < 0.05), followed by brussels sprouts (0.50 +/- 0.15 micromol/liver), Betanat (beta-carotene from Blakeslea trispora) (0.50 +/- 0.12 micromol/liver) and spinach (0.47 +/- 0.09 micromol/liver) groups, which did not differ from baseline. The WFS (0.44 +/- 0.06 micromol/liver) and kale (0.43 +/- 0.14 micromol/liver) groups had lower liver VA than the baseline group (P < 0.05), but did not differ from the brussels sprouts, Betanat and spinach groups. In Study 2, liver VA was highest in the orange (0.67 +/- 0.18 micromol/liver), papaya (0.67 +/- 0.15 micromol/liver) and VA (0.66 +/- 0.14 micromol/liver) groups, followed by the mango (0.58 +/- 0.09 micromol/liver) and tangerine (0.55 +/- 0.15 micromol/liver) groups. These groups did not differ from baseline. The banana group (0.47 +/- 0.15 micromol/liver) was unable to maintain baseline stores of VA and did not differ from the control (0.46 +/- 0.13 mumol/liver). These fruits (except banana), vegetables and the WFS were able to prevent VA deficiency in Mongolian gerbils and could be an effective part of food-based interventions to support VA nutrition in developing countries and worldwide.

Topics: Animals; beta Carotene; Brassica; Carica; Carotenoids; Citrus; Citrus sinensis; Cryptoxanthins; Fruit; Gerbillinae; Liver; Lutein; Male; Mangifera; Spinacia oleracea; Vegetables; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Xanthophylls

Vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem in Sri Lanka, which affects especially pre-school children. Carrots (Daucus carota), pumpkins (Cucurbita maxima), squashes (Cucurbita moschata) and sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) of orange, yellow-fleshed varieties are good sources of provitamin A carotenoids, but have not been studied in Sri Lanka in terms of the food as eaten. The content of carotenoids in each preparation method and the in-vitro accessibility of beta-carotene and alpha-carotene were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The in-vitro method simulates the conditions in the human intestinal tract. The mean contents in dry weight (DW) in different carrot preparations ranged from 406.7 to 456.3, from 183.7 to 213.5 and from 29.0 to 39.6 microg/g for beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and lutein, respectively. The content of carotenoids in different pumpkin preparations varied from 282.1 to 294.4 microg/g DW for beta-carotene, from 155.6 to 157.7 microg/g DW for alpha-carotene and from 218.0 to 228.2 microg/g DW for lutein. The squashes preparation had 44.6 and 40.0 microg/g DW for beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, respectively, and in sweet potatoes beta-carotene ranged from 204.3 to 210.3 microg/g DW. The results showed that the contribution to the recommended daily allowance is greater when these vegetables are prepared as a curry with coconut milk. The percentage contribution to recommended daily allowance from each vegetable cooked with coconut milk was 46.7, 21.8, 1.2 and 10.8 for carrots, pumpkins, squashes and sweet potatoes, respectively.

Topics: Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Biological Availability; Carotenoids; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cocos; Cooking; Food Technology; Humans; Sri Lanka; Vegetables; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Vitamins

Kiribati, a remote atoll island country of the Pacific, has serious problems of vitamin A deficiency (VAD). Thus, it is important to identify locally grown acceptable foods that might be promoted to alleviate this problem. Pandanus fruit (Pandanus tectorius) is a well-liked indigenous Kiribati food with many cultivars that have orange/yellow flesh, indicative of carotenoid content. Few have been previously analysed.. This study was conducted to identify cultivars of pandanus and other foods that could be promoted to alleviate VAD in Kiribati.. Ethnography was used to select foods and assess acceptability factors. Pandanus and other foods were analysed for beta- and alpha-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene and total carotenoids using high-performance liquid chromatography.. Of the nine pandanus cultivars investigated there was a great range of provitamin A carotenoid levels (from 62 to 19,086 microg beta-carotene/100 g), generally with higher levels in those more deeply coloured. Seven pandanus cultivars, one giant swamp taro (Cyrtosperma chamissonis) cultivar and native fig (Ficus tinctoria) had significant provitamin A carotenoid content, meeting all or half of estimated daily vitamin A requirements within normal consumption patterns. Analyses in different laboratories confirmed high carotenoid levels in pandanus but showed that there are still questions as to how high the levels might be, owing to variation arising from different handling/preparation/analytical techniques.. These carotenoid-rich acceptable foods should be promoted for alleviating VAD in Kiribati and possibly other Pacific contexts where these foods are important. Further research in the Pacific is needed to identify additional indigenous foods with potential health benefits.

Topics: Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Biological Availability; Carotenoids; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Food, Organic; Health Promotion; Humans; Micronesia; Nutritive Value; Pandanaceae; Pigmentation; Public Health; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

Although carotenoids are known to be important dietary sources of vitamin A, there have been few epidemiological studies that have characterized the serum concentrations of major dietary carotenoids among preschool children with vitamin A deficiency. We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study of serum pro-vitamin A carotenoids (alpha -carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin), non-provitamin A carotenoids (lutein/zeaxanthin, and lycopene), and retinol among 278 children, aged 1-5 y, in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Vitamin A deficiency was defined as serum retinol <0.70 micromol/L. Geometric mean serum concentrations of carotenoids among children with and without vitamin A deficiency were 0.003 vs 0.006 micromol/L for alpha-carotene (P = 0.0017), 0.011 vs 0.023 micromol/L for beta-carotene (P <0.0001), 0.023 vs 0.034 micromol/L for beta-cryptoxanthin (P = 0.0075), 0.007 vs 0.012 micromol/L for lycopene (P = 0.037), 0.044 vs 0.052 micromol/L for lutein/zeaxanthin (P = 0.2), and 0.045 vs 0.074 micromol/L for total provitamin A carotenoids (P <0.0001) respectively. In a multivariate analysis adjusting for sex, age (Odds Ratio [O.R.] 1.44, 95% confidence interval [C.I.] 1.16-1.78), and serum provitamin A carotenoids (O.R. 0.49, 95% C.I. 0.34-0.71) were associated with vitamin A deficiency, but serum non-provitamin A carotenoids were not associated with vitamin A deficiency (O.R. 0.93, 95% C.I. 0.67-1.28). Preschool children with vitamin A deficiency in the Republic of the Marshall Islands have extremely low serum concentrations of provitamin A carotenoids and interventions are needed to improve the dietary intake of provitamin A carotenoids among Marshallese children.

Topics: Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Biomarkers; Carotenoids; Child; Child Welfare; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cryptoxanthins; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant Welfare; Lutein; Lycopene; Male; Micronesia; Multivariate Analysis; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins

Commonly recommended plant sources of provitamin A, such as dark green leafy vegetables, are not acceptable in many population groups. The objective of this study was to identify other indigenous foods that may be effectively promoted to alleviate vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and to gather information relevant to identification, production, acquisition, and consumption of foods relevant to a food-based VAD prevention strategy in the Federated States of Micronesia. An ethnographic study on edible pandanus cultivars, involving key informant interviews and observation was carried out. Analyses revealed a great range in carotenoid content. Several orange-coloured pandanus cultivars, all highly acceptable, contained high levels of carotenoid, almost meeting daily requirements in usual consumption patterns, whereas light yellow-coloured cultivars contained low levels. Availability has decreased substantially in recent years due to increased consumption of imported foods and general neglect of indigenous foods. High-carotenoid pandanus should be promoted for general enjoyment and health benefits.

Topics: Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Biological Availability; Carotenoids; Color; Diet; Feeding Behavior; Food, Organic; Health Promotion; Humans; Micronesia; Nutritive Value; Pandanaceae; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

To gain information about the micronutrient status of urban, middle-income, breast-feeding mothers in relation to zinc and selected fat-soluble vitamins in plasma and breast milk and to assess possible interaction between the measured micronutrients.. Cross-sectional study.. 91 mothers and their infants living in middle-income areas of Jakarta, Indonesia.. None of the measured anthropometric data of the mothers (e.g. BMI: 22.0+/-3.1 kg/m2) and their infants (birth weight: 3.2+/-0.5 kg) gave any indication of undernutrition. The mean concentrations in blood were 124+/-18 g/l for hemoglobin, 385+/-111 microg/l for retinol, 34+/-23 microg/l for alpha-carotene, 104+/-72 microg/l for beta-carotene, 7.7+/-3.3 mg/l for alpha-tocopherol, 0.57+/-0.23 mg/l for gamma-tocopherol, 855+/-242 microg/l for zinc, and the median concentration of lycopene was 29 microg/l. The median breast milk concentrations were 420 microg/l for retinol, 7.8 microg/l for beta-carotene, and 2.7 mg/l for zinc. With increased duration of lactation, vitamin A and zinc concentrations significantly decreased in breast milk whereas plasma zinc concentration increased. Plasma alpha- and beta-carotene were positively correlated (P < 0.0001) with each other and with plasma lycopene. Breast milk beta-carotene was positively correlated with breast milk retinol and with plasma beta-carotene (P < 0.0001). There was no correlation between zinc and vitamin A in either breast milk or plasma. Forty per cent of the mothers were anemic, 29.1% had a low plasma zinc concentration, and 23.7% had a moderately low plasma vitamin A concentration. Breast milk from 70% of the women had a low concentration of vitamin A and that from 66% had a low concentration of zinc.. Multi-micronutrient intervention should be considered to provide a sufficient supply of zinc and vitamin A for growth of exclusively breast-fed infants.

Topics: Adult; beta Carotene; Birth Weight; Body Mass Index; Carotenoids; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Indonesia; Lycopene; Milk, Human; Reference Values; Socioeconomic Factors; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Vitamin E; Zinc

Cross-sectional interactions by malaria status were investigated between plasma alpha-tocopherol, retinol, and several carotenoids (lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and alpha- and beta-carotene) and indicators of disease severity (blood parasite count, hemoglobin concentration), acute-phase response (plasma albumin and ceruloplasmin concentrations), hepatic involvement (plasma alanine aminotransferase), oxidant status and antioxidant status (plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive material and ascorbate), nutritional (weight-for-age) and carrier protein [retinol binding protein (RBP)] status, and cholesterol concentration (as a proxy for lipoprotein) in 100 consecutively admitted children with malaria. There were 50 children with severe and 50 with mild malaria and 50 age- and sex-matched control subjects. alpha-Tocopherol, retinol, and all the carotenoid concentrations were lower in the patients than in the control subjects (P < 0.001). The differences were greater in severe than in mild malaria, except for lutein. In severe malaria only, both retinol and alpha-tocopherol correlated with albumin, ceruloplasmin, and RBP concentrations whereas in all three groups retinol correlated with RBP and alpha-tocopherol correlated with cholesterol (all P < 0.01)). Using multivariate analysis on data from all patients combined, cholesterol was the most significant factor explaining the variance in alpha-tocopherol (29%) whereas RBP was responsible for 95% of the variance in retinol. Plasma cholesterol and RBP values in turn (in the absence of alpha-tocopherol and retinol, respectively) were influenced primarily by acute-phase markers (mainly albumin and ceruloplasmin). Alanine aminotransferase (r = -0.17) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive material (r = -0.17) also showed a small contribution to the variance of RBP but 60-70% remained unexplained. In conclusion, low plasma lipid-soluble micronutrient concentrations in malaria are strongly influenced by the reductions in their carrier molecules, which, in turn, are low as a consequence of the acute-phase response.

Topics: beta Carotene; Carotenoids; Child; Child, Preschool; Cholesterol; Cryptoxanthins; Female; Humans; India; Infant; Lycopene; Malaria, Falciparum; Male; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Vitamin E; Xanthophylls